Print this page

General Information

Contents...

Absence
Admission of Pupils
Behaviour
Bicycles
Board of Trustees
Community and school description
Community Facilities
Dental Treatment
Educational and Related Services
Extension Activities
Gifted and Talented Programme
Homework
Illness or Accidents at school
Integrated Learning Centre (ILC)
Newsletters
Our School Reporting in line with the National Standards

Our Vision
Parent Teacher Association
Promotion of Students in the Junior School
Psychological Services
Reading Recovery
Reporting to Parents
Restorative Practice
School Bus
School Fees and Donations
School Hours
School Uniform
School Lunches
School Rules
Senior Sports Programme
Staff
Stationery
Swimming Pool
Targeted Teaching in the Junior School
Technicraft
Telephone

1. Absence

It would be appreciated if parents or caregivers could advise the school by telephone by five to nine each morning if students will not be attending school that day, or if they will be arriving late. If you received a phone call about your son’s/daughter’s absence it is for our information and for your child’s protection. A daily check is kept on arrivals and departures and also on punctuality. It is very important that students attend school every day unless they are sick. However, if students are leaving during the term for any reason please advise the class teacher and Principal.

2. Admission of Pupils

Parents of new entrant children are invited to bring the child to school for up to three visits from 9:00am – 11:00am. Suitable dates are to be arranged with the New Entrant teacher.

Children attend school full time unless the parents or teacher feels it is too tiring for the child, in which case an arrangement can be made between the parents and teacher to allow the child some time off school, until they become used to the full day. Parents are asked to enrol their child(ren) with the secretary and meet the Principal before they start school.

3. Behaviour

Our Motto - 'Ohoka Kids are COOL kids,’ who achieve with pride.

At playtime teachers record any behaviour that causes concern. Teachers carry a clipboard while on duty and have ‘COOL’ credits. Teachers give out a credit to children who are showing the following characteristics:

Certificates in assembly have been aligned to the COOL characteristics.

4. Bicycles

All children may bring bicycles to school. Helmets are compulsory and children are to cycle in single file. If younger children are cycling to school it is advisable for a parent to accompany them. However, we strongly recommend that pupils below Year 5 do not cycle to school as road sense takes many years to mature. Cyclists are to cycle to and from school by the most direct route.

5. Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees are elected by the parent community of the district. Elections are held every three years.The Board may at any time co-opt members for either the whole term of office or to utilise a person’s skills and experience for a particular purpose for a specific length of time. The term of office is for three years and the Board’s role is one of governance.

The Board and staff work within the guidelines as set out in the school’s charter. The Board of Trustees following consultation with the school’s community prepare the charter. Through its executive committees, the Board is responsible for the maintenance and development of the school’s facilities and is the employer of the school’s staff, having input, along with the Principal, into staff selection.

The management of the school including day to day running is the responsibility of the Principal. Internal organization of classes along with teaching programmes are the responsibility of teaching staff and the Principal.

Your present Board of Trustees members are:

Chairman: Matthew Nicholson
Principal: Rob Falconer
Secretary: Nicki Killner

Board members:

Jenny Fraser
Jude Bennet
Peter Supyk
Mark Cosgrove
Vince Williams
Shane Gooch
Simon Taylor
Amanda Greatrix (Staff Rep)

6. Community and school description

Ohoka School is a co-educational State Primary School in the small rural community of Ohoka, 20km north of Christchurch. The school and area has a lot of history, hence the local curriculum goal “Local History and Environment”

The school opened officially in 1868 on a site in Flaxton with a roll of 28. Attendance was irregular as most children had to work, families being large and most people poor. In 1877, the Flaxton Main School was built on the present school site in Ohoka (then Wetheral). Most records of the Flaxton and Ohoka Schools were destroyed when the school burnt down in 1926. All that was left of the school was the bell, which we still use.

Today, Ohoka School caters for New Entrant to Year 8 pupils with a grading roll of 228 rising to approximately 254 mainly European children, by the end of 2010.

The school is currently staffed with 12.25 teachers, comprising of a Principal, a Deputy Principal, Assistant Principal and 10 full time teachers; a Reading Recovery teacher, a 0.2 IT teacher, 0.27 Special Needs teacher, four Teacher Aides and a Secretary.
A wide range of outside agencies supports the school. These include the Public Health Nurse, School Dental Therapist Service and advisory services including Audio Visual testers and a Curriculum Advisory Service.

The school is set on approximately 2 hectares with 1.2 hectares leased land and 2ha of an adjacent block of land which has been recently acquired through the Ministry of Education. There are 11 classrooms, a library, physed shed, special needs facilities and a room used for Reading Recovery. The hall, library, swimming pool, netball courts and fields are used by the wider community.

Parents are involved in netball, sports, library, classroom programmes, grounds maintenance, transporting children, camps and trips. There is liaison with the local playcentre, kindergartens and pre schools. The school strives to create a family atmosphere.

The school is served by two school buses.

There is an active Board of Trustees and PTA who support the school by providing extra amenities and resources for the children.

7. Community Facilities

Photocopying facility is available at the school office at 20c a copy.
Hours: 9:00am – 3:00pm.

8. Dental Treatment

Dental treatment is available at Kaiapoi Borough School Dental Clinic,
Telephone (03) 327 7233
Contact: Jill or Diane
Pre school children can enrol from the age of fifteen months.

9. Educational and Related Services

Various agencies exist to assist pupils and teachers. Some personnel make regular calls to the school while others visit on request. Agencies available to the school include:

Advisers – curriculum areas
Child Welfare
Guidance Unit
Health Department – Public Health Nurse
Police Officers
Police – Youth Aid Section
Red Cross Tutors
RTLB – Resource Teacher of Learning Behaviour, based at Kaiapoi North School
RTLit – Resource Teacher of Literature, based at Kaiapoi North School
School Library Service
Special Education Services
Speech Therapist
Visiting Teacher
Apart from routine visits, parents are generally consulted when the services of outside agencies are required.

10. Extension Activities

Children take part in a wide range of activities, often outside of school hours. They are encouraged to participate in such events and the school’s policy is to encourage a full entry so children may gain different experiences, which aid their growth and development. Some of these activities are as follows:

(a)   Cantamaths: This annual event is organised by the Canterbury Teachers’ Association. School teams are entered in the Years 7 & 8 section of the teams’ events and individuals participate in the various competitions involving design, patterns and games.

(b)   Camps: The school offers a range of outdoor pursuits for the children to take part in. Venues range from Hanmer, Wainui, Peel Forest, Living Springs, Orton Bradley Park or Arthur’s Pass Camps start when students are in Year 5.

(c)   Science Badge: This is an opportunity for Year 7 & 8 pupils to participate in additional scientific studies in their own time. It is highly recommended that all students are given the opportunity to participate. There are fourteen badges available on a great variety of topics. Information is available for parents to view and discuss with their children.

(d)   Technology Challenge: An evening organised by the Canterbury Science Teachers’ Association in October. The participants are given a series of challenges to complete within a short period of time. A school team is entered from the school’s own competition held early in the third term.

(e)   Christchurch Schools Music Festival: Held in the Christchurch Town Hall in late September/early October, this festival is a highlight for many children. A choir chosen mainly from Middle and Senior school represents the school in the massed items. Children also have the opportunity to audition for the special choir, recorder group and orchestra, all of which are comprised of pupils from a variety of schools.

(f)   School Production: Every second year, the school puts on a major school production where all students are able to take part. The senior students audition for major parts. To help cover costs a small levy is charged.

(g)   Show Day: To alternate with the school production, the school organises a ‘Show Day’. In the morning the children make many crafts associated with agriculture days. At lunch time all exhibits made and student’s pets are judged. In the afternoon, students parade their pets in the ‘Grand Parade’.

(h)   Sports Events: Pupils participate not only in their own school sports but take part in rural and regional events in athletics, swimming, cross country and winter sports.

(i)   Kiwi Ski: Each year the Year 7 & 8 children take part in a Kiwi Ski programme at Mt Hutt.

11. Gifted and Talented Programme.

As part of the schools G & T programme, we have organised a Talent Options Programme or TOPs Programme. Students in association with their teacher and parent select an option which the child would like to pursue further to either increase their talent or expertise. There are a broad variety of options which cover the curriculum e.g.

Gymnastics
Acting and singing
Guitar
Movie making
Animal biology
Literacy Quiz
French
Science
Art
Sculpture
Maths extension
Agricultural club

12. Homework

Our school encourages children to carry out homework. This can range from reading, tables and spelling, the amount of homework is left to each teacher. Parents are requested to encourage and where necessary assist children to complete set homework.

13. Illness or Accidents at School

Any minor illness or accident is dealt with at school by the teachers. If a doctor is required and parents cannot be contacted the teachers will take the injured or sick child to a doctor. Please ensure that the telephone numbers of both parents are at school and in the case of either parent being difficult to contact, another telephone number of a relative or friend would be useful.

14. Integrated Learning Centre (ILC)

The school has a modern well-stocked library and all children are encouraged to borrow books. Most classes have weekly library periods and the library is open each day from 1:00 – 1:15pm. It is important that children look after the books. All junior children will be required to purchase a library bag so their book can be taken home safely. Unfortunately if your child is in the junior school they won’t be able to take home a book unless they have a book bag. It is suggested that parents, especially those in the Junior school, contact their child’s teacher, to ascertain the library day.

15. Newsletters

These are a regular feature of school life and are emailed to each family every Thursday. The newsletter is an endeavour to keep you informed with past and future events at school. Special notices from the PTA and local organizations are also issued on their behalf.

16. Our School Reporting in line with the National Standards

Junior School – Year 1-3
Reporting in the first year

After 6 weeks a report on each child will be shared with parents
Within your child’s first year, interim testing will be carried out e.g. the Sutherland Test, which focuses on Phonological Awareness, will be administered to any child the teacher feels needs closer monitoring in order to identify any areas of concern associated with letter identification and sounds.
6 year testing: Every child undertakes a 6 year old test, which includes letter identification, dictation, writing words in a set time period, a running record, and Concepts about Print.

Senior School
At the beginning of the year teachers, will hold parent meetings so parents can share information to the teacher, which will assist the teacher to understand their child in more detail. A written report will be sent to parents twice a year, which includes where the child is performing against the National Standards in Numeracy, Literacy, Integrated Unit study and the Key Competencies and

Next step learning suggestions
At home learning support

Parent interviews are also held in term 2 and term 3 so parents can discuss their child’s progress. We also encourage all students in year 6-8 to attend the interview with their parents.

17. Our Vision and Our Strategic Goals

…..a dynamic learning environment that empowers skilled, creative, open-minded citizens of the future

Motto – ‘Ohoka Kids are COOL kids,’ who achieve with pride

At Ohoka School we believe that to encompass the intentions of the revised NZ Curriculum and for a child to be a 21st Century learner we need to develop a Global Citizen, which will need to have the following:

Concern for the environment - sustainability

Empathy

Co operation – conflict resolution

Rights and responsibilities

Sense of identity

Communication – Info literacy – critical Literacy

Respecting

Controversial Issues

Languages – new languages - culture

Social Action

18. Parent Teacher Association

The PTA meets monthly. They are a group of interested parents elected at the Annual General Meeting held in March.

The PTA has two main functions:

To make for more effective communication between parents and teachers
To assist with fund-raising ventures and specific school projects.

President: Greg Tyrrell
Secretary: Kerri Taylor
Treasurer: Maryanne White

All of the PTA activities are published in the school’s weekly newsletter.

19. Promotion of students in the Junior children

We do our best to cater for the individual needs of each child.

In line with the new requirements from the Ministry of Education the Junior School will classify the children entering school the following way: -

January – February:      Year 1
April:    Year 0/1 depending on their growth and development
May – December:      Year 0

20. Psychological Services

The Psychological Service of the Ministry of Education is used when a child has a problem that requires specialist diagnosis and treatment. No child is referred to the Psychologist without prior discussion with and consent of, the parents. Information about other sources of counselling or psychological help for children or their families is available from the Principal.

21. Reading Recovery

This is a special programme aimed at helping children who may be at risk with their reading in the early years at school. Children are taught in a one-to-one situation with a specially trained teacher. Daily instruction is given until the child has achieved the set goals.

Reading Recovery programmes enjoy a very high success rate throughout New Zealand schools. All children reading at their chronological age or below are tested at the age of six and, if necessary, their name is put forward as a recommendation to enter the programme.

22. Reporting to Parents

Parents of new entrant children will receive a report and attend an interview after the child’s first six weeks at school. New Entrants do not receive formal reports.

The development of the child is the responsibility of both parent and school and a close liaison between the two is most essential to ensure maximum gains. We hold a ‘Meet the Teacher’ evening early in February and ‘Parent Interviews’ in July and September. At any time during the school year parents may discuss their child’s progress with his/her teacher.

23. Restorative Practice

The school has adopted restorative practices to deal with any situations that may need to be resolved. Restorative practice seeks to heal relationships and put right the wrongs.

We feel that a ‘just’ school is a place where victims and wrong-doers and their respective communities of care are active participants in processes that ensure equal justice and fairness.

Victims are empowered to have their needs met and to have their experience validated. Wrong-doers are able to tell their stories and be given the chance to make amends. The community of care can seek ways to ensure that the incident does not happen again.

In minor incidents the teachers or peer mediators will have a restorative ‘chat’ to see if the problem can be resolved. Guidelines are set down for these discussions.

In more serious situations a conference will be held. These can range from a small group, including the wrong-doers and victim to a full restorative conference, which includes the wrong-doers and victims with their supporters and/or parents.

It is our experience that conferencing is not a soft option for wrong-doers. We have been told that wrong-doers have said that they would rather be suspended from school rather than face up to a group of affected people, as the conference in their words is “really tough”.
In summary - It is better to ‘work with’ rather than ‘do to’ young wrong-doers.

24. School Bus

Click here to view the Ohoka School Bus route.

The school is currently running two buses, which encompass most of our current enrolment zone. The two buses arrives at school between 8:45am – 9:00am and departs approximately 3:10pm.

The present Ministry of Education policy for school buses is as follows:

“Pupils under 10 years of age who live more than 3.2kms from the nearest state school and pupils 10 years of age and over who live more than 4.8kms from the nearest state school, may be eligible for transport. The provision of school transport is a form of assistance only and does not fully remove the obligation of parents in this regard. Eligible children are normally required to make their own way up to 1.6kms to the bus stop. A gap of up to about 5kms between services and also between a service and a neighbouring school is advised”.

25. School Fees and Donations

The Ohoka School each year requests an activity payment and donation from each family.

Donations: The donation is $140.00 per child or $35.00 per child per term. To assist families with this payment, accounts will be sent out each term.

Explanatory note: As a Decile 10 school, we receive no additional funds in our Operations Grant to fund additional resources, which directly benefit your child’s education e.g. Teacher Aides, specialist teachers in music, ICT and Art and also to provide additional staffing in order for the school to keep class sizes small. Activity Fees: Accounts will be sent out each term for actual excursions or performances your child has been involved in.

26. School Hours

School hours are as follows:

School commences 9:00am
Teaching block 1 9.00 - 10.00am
Snack 10.00am - 10.10am
Teaching Block 2 10.10am - 11.10am
Morning Interval          11.10am - 11.30am
Teaching block 3 11.30am - 12,30am
Lunch Hour                 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Afternoon programme 1.30pm - 3.00pm
School Concludes       3:00pm

Children are allowed into the school grounds after 8:30am.

28. School Lunches

Present research shows there is a relationship between good eating habits and behavioural traits. Therefore parents are asked to provide their children with a realistically sized, well-balanced lunch containing sandwiches, cake, fruit etc. The PTA provide Sushi for students. Orders are collated every Tuesday for delivery on Thursday.

29. School Rules

i.   Good manners e.g. Please, Thank you, Excuse me – insisted upon.

ii.    Respect for all adults and all other children.

iii.   Total School environment to be cared for –playground, buildings etc. to be kept clean and tidy. Pride taken in all areas.

iv.   Lunch -    Summer – under trees at main entrance
Winter – around adventure playground

v.   Children are to be organised before school – books in desks, pencils sharpened, bags/coats on hooks and children to play outside whenever possible.

vi.   Cycle stand area – out of bounds during the day. Only children with bikes are allowed to go behind the hall.

vii.   As soon as the bell rings children move back to class. There is a sports bell at 1:20pm, which is an indication to students to return all sports equipment.

viii.   The library is open daily for exchanging books. No food or PE gear to be taken into the library.

ix.   School bus pupils should be well mannered, patient, quiet and responsible. They’re to talk quietly only to the children beside them.

x.   Parents to ring the school between 8:30 – 9:00am if their children are going to be absent leave a message on the schools answer phone or email the office at: office@ohoka.school.nz

Children should not be at school before 8:30am or after 3:30pm. The duty teacher at the school gate will take any children who have not been picked up by 3:15pm, to the office area where they can be supervised.

30. Senior Sports Programme

All pupils are expected to participate unless there is a good medical reason for their exclusion.

Summer: Tennis, softball, cricket, swimming, basketball, volleyball, tee ball.

Winter: Hockey, rugby, soccer, netball.

The senior school - Years 5 – 8 take part in regular sporting exchanges between local country schools.

31. Staff

Ohoka is an eleven teacher school.

The staff members at present are:

Principal: Rob Falconer
Deputy: Jude Edwards
Assistant Principal: Sue Mills

Room	Year	Staff
1 a	1	Mrs Christine Foaese
1 b	1	Mrs Cath Blackmore
2	1	Mrs Paula Hodges
3	2	Mrs Sue James
4	2	Mrs Suzy Freer
5	3	Mrs Sue Mills
6	4	Ms Suzanne Liggett
7	4/5	Mrs Mandy Greatrix
8	6	Miss Millie Deans
9	6	Miss Victoria Hammersley
10	7/8	Mrs Jude Edwards
11	7/8	Mrs kitto

School Secretary: Jenny McCartney
Teacher Aides: Stephanie Cotton, Sandi Eastmond, Sarah Smitherson, Nicki Ward, Desiree Bryce
Library Assistant: Lorraine Fuller

32. Stationery

The school offers only a small supply of stationery for sale during the school year. New Entrant children are issued with all necessary stationery. If children require any item they need to bring the correct change in an envelope to their class teacher.

33. Swimming Pool

During the swimming season the swimming pool is open to all residents in the district. A key system operates and pays in part for this facility.

• School rules as set out in the swimming pool must be observed.
• Primary and pre-school children must be supervised by an adult.

34. Targeted teaching in the Junior School:

–   PMP The Perceptual Motor Programme is a holistic Movement / Language based development programme, which helps children with motor coordination, cognitive development, self-esteem, social skills and ability to cope better in the classroom. The programme runs for two terms and is staffed by parent helpers and a co-ordinator.

–   Socially speaking. Is a practical programme, which encourages effective social interaction, listening and language skills. Teachers refer children and the programme is taken by a Teacher Aide.

–   Letterland. On starting school, children are introduced to Letterland. A phonological programme teaching children to analyse and record sounds for writing and reading. It is a highly interactive and creative child centered programme used in the first years of schooling.

–   Parent helpers All classes in the junior school encourage the parents to participate in the classroom. Parents are invited to help in class with subjects such as Literacy and Numeracy and to assist with class trips.

–   Pre school visits - are arranged between parents and the New Entrant teachers.

–   Parent Information meetings - are held during the year for groups of parents whose children will be starting around the same time. These meetings cover an introduction to school routines, Letterland, PMP and culture, i.e. the C.O.O.L programme

–   Swimming. As we have a school pool, children swim daily, weather permitting, during Terms 1 and 4

–   Gymnastics. The whole school makes use of the gymnastics facility in Rangiora throughout the year. The school has its own gymnastic equipment readily available for classes.

–   Lunches. The PTA operates a lunch order of Sushi, which is ordered on a Tuesday and delivered for Thursday lunch. Junior children have their lunch box checked by the duty teacher to ensure that they have eaten an appropriate amount of food before they go to play.

–   Assemblies. Whole school and Junior assemblies are held on alternate Fridays. At Junior assembly classes share work and activities, celebrate C.O.O.L awards and enjoy singing together.

–   Homework. Junior children have Literacy based homework appropriate to their needs and the level they are working at.

35. Technicraft

All Year 7 – 8 children attend Technicraft Training at Kaiapoi Borough School for one and a half hours per week. The day and time changes from year to year but all children involved are informed at the end of each year. In addition, Year 7 – 8 pupils receive one hour per week tuition in Technology at school. The Technology teacher is based at Kaiapoi Borough School. The Technicraft Centre telephone number is (03) 327 7615.

36. Telephone

The school telephone is only to be used by pupils for an important message or in an emergency.